Friday, March 11, 2011

Two More Philadelphia-Area Abortion Clinics Shuttered Following Inspections

In early November, two Philadelphia-area abortion clinics closed and the abortionist retired after a state inspection revealed nightmarish conditions at the facilities. Then Pennsylvania officials waited more than three months to say anything about the case.

Only after a drug raid in February 2010 revealed horrific conditions at the Philadelphia abortion clinic of Kermit Gosnell did the state Health Department decide to inspect all of the state’s 22 clinics — for the first time in more than 15 years.

In early November, the state discovered disgusting conditions at two separate clinics — including fetal remains in cabinets and outside. Abortionist Soleiman M. Soli, 73, decided to close both of his Abortion as an Alternative Inc. clinics and retire. The reports were provided recently to The Associated Press by the office of Gov. Tom Corbett.

Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said he wasn’t shocked by the news. “Are we surprised that inspections at two more Philadelphia-area abortion centers uncovered atrocious, unsanitary conditions? No. We expect more revelations. Are we surprised that ‘pro-choice’ politicians are still trying to protect the abortion industry? No. It’s part and parcel of their practices, and pro-lifers must band together to say ‘No more!’”

Gosnell is charged with eight counts of murder in the deaths of a woman and seven babies who were born alive and then killed. Investigators discovered the remains of babies strewn through the clinic.

Just miles away, the scenes were eerily similar.

At Soli’s Bensalem clinic, inspectors found the remains of preborn babies left outside the building in unsecured containers, AP reported. Inspectors say drugs and equipment required to resuscitate patients were missing. And they say dozens of expired drugs were found, some dating back decades.

The AP reported that fetal tissue samples were found inside a cabinet at Soli’s Philadelphia clinic. Investigators also reported nonworking or missing equipment and expired drugs. They found Soli’s lunch was kept in the same refrigerator as the clinic’s drugs, according to the AP. “Opened, uncapped needles were also observed lying directly on the floor under the cabinet with the identified medications,” inspectors said.

Geer said it’s going to take a while to uncover the details in these cases and, likely, others.
“We’ll be digging deeper to find out more about what was really found,” he said. “There’s been more than 15 years of inaction and cover-ups in state government, and we need to make sure no cover-ups continue.”